Hand operated electric light signal device



March 31, 1942. A. D. LE SAGE 2,277,866

HAND OPERATED ELECTRIC LIGHT SIGNAL DEVICE Filed Aug. :50, 1941 Patented Mar. 31, 1942 HAND OPERATED ELECTRIC LIGHT SIGNAL DEVIC Aaron D. Le Sage, Manteno, Ill.

Application August 30,1941, Serial No. 409,075

4 Claims.

My invention relates to a device for use both as a flash light and as a safety and signal device in driving an automobile at night.

Among the objects of my invention is to provide a device capable of serving both as an ordinary pocket flash light and also capable of operating as a safety signaling device in driving an automobile at night. It is well known that many accidents occur on highways during night time due to the inability of drivers to see the signal of others. My invention provides a device capable of being carried in the pocket by a clip in the manner of an ordinary fountain pen. The clip is also adapted to operate the device as a flashing or steady signal light upon the movement of the drivers hands. My invention also contemplates such other objects, advantages, and capabilities as will later more fully appear and which are inherently possessed by my invention.

While I have shown in the accompanying drawing a preferred embodiment of my invention, yet I wish it understood that the same is susceptible of modification and change without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a view showing my device in use; Fig. 2 is a front and Fig. 3 a rear elevational view; Fig. 4 is a top plan view; Fig. 5 is a side elevational view; Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view partly in section; Fig. '7 is an enlarged detailed view of the collar and extension and Fig. 8 is an enlarged detailed view showing the insulation around the battery.

The embodiment selected to illustrate my invention comprises a hollow casing l0. Adjacent its upper end the casing l has a cut away portion closed by a window |2. The casing has an open upper end 32.

Within the upper portion of said casing I0 is a collar |3, preferably of metal. An extension M has its inner end attached to said collar and extends outwardly through aperture in the casing Ill. The aperture I5 is on a side of the casing ||l substantially opposite to the window l2. The extension l4 then continues at right angles with an upstanding portion IE on which is mounted a knob l1. At either side of aperture |5 the material forming the casing I0 is bent to form spaced ears Ill. The ears I! have holes I9 in line with each other and a hole in extension N.

A handle 2| is formed with a tongue portion 22 which has a bifurcated inner end 23 with holes 24. The bifurcated inner end 23 straddles the extension I4 and inner end 23 and extension H of collar l3 are attached to the ears l8 of casing In by being pivoted on stud 25, which passes through holes I9, 20 and 24.

The collar |3 is adapted to receive and hold by a stop member or friction grip-the collar 26 of an electric light bulb 21, the bulb extending upwardly beyond the short side 28 of the collar |3 which faces the window l2. The collar l3 has an opposite long side 29 which serves as a reflector.

An electric battery 30 of the miniature type commonly referred to as a pen-cell battery has its bottom end contacting contact point 43 of collar 26 of the electric light bulb 21 within casing Ill. Insulation 38 surrounds battery 30 and prevents contact between battery 30 and easing III. A coiled spring 3| is Placed within casing H) with its upper end contacting the tar or insulation of the upper end of battery 30. An electrical contact member 33 is attached to the lower end of the coiled spring 3| by friction grip, and rests on bottom closure member 40, which is held within casing III by flange 4| and is removable through slot 42.

The bottom closure member 40 is made of electrically conducting material. Closure member 40 may be removed by moving the same upward and sliding it through slot 42 out of the casing l0. Battery 30 may then be removed through the open bottom end of easing Ill.

The upper end of upstanding portion l6 of extension |4 bears screw threads 34 and knob I1 is screw threaded to engage therewith. When knob H is tightened to the inner ends of screw threads 34, it contacts the bifurcated inner end 23 of handle 2|. This causes the outer end 35 of handle 2| to bear against the casing In. When knob I1 is thus in tightened position, handle 2| is adapted to serve as a clip to hold device in the pocket of the user. Handle 2| is adapted to fit any size pocket or object because upon its outward movement it bears against knob l1, thus forcing collar l3 to push bulb 21 and battery 30 against the pressure of coiled spring 3|.

- Coiled spring 3| thus serves to give handle 2| the efiect of a resilient pocket clip.

In operation as an ordinary flash light, my device may be operated by exerting pressure on knob H in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6. This causes collar l3 to move in the direction of the pressure and also downwardly. The downward movement of collar I3 is followed by a corresponding downward movement of bulb 21 and battery 3|! against the pressure of coiled spring 3|. When a pressure is sufilcient to overcome that of coiled spring 3!, the top of battery 80 comes into contact with electrical contact member 33, thus completing the electrical circuit and causing the bulb to light.

When the circuit has been closed, the current flows from the core of battery 30 through electrical contact member 33 and through bottom closure member 40 and then through casing in to collar l3. From collar IS, the current flows to the collar 26 of bulb 21 and through the bulb to the battery 30, completing the circuit.

The outer end 01' handle 2| has a hole 36 which is adapted to receive a cross bar 31. The cross bar 31 may remain extended so as to provide a T-shaped handle, or it may be adapted to fold against the sides of handle 2|. In operation as a signaling device for use in night time driving, knob I1 is loosened upon screw threads 34 of extension ll. Handle 2! may then be moved approximately half an inch away from casing l before it engages knob ll. The device is fitted over the back of the left hand of the user, with the T-shaped cross bar 31 fitting beneath any two fingers and the casing l0 fitting across the back of the fingers and hand. In this position the device is inoperative while the hand is in relaxed position, but is adapted to light when the fingers and hand are extended in a tensed position.-

The tensing of the fingers of the user exerts a pressure in a counter-clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6 on the T-'-shaped cross bar 31 of handle 2|. Handle 2| then moves in a counter-clockwise direction as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6 and exerts pressure on knob H to cause 1 the light to operate in the manner described above. The tensing of the hand also results in the back of the hand of the user exerting an upward pressure against casing l0, which cooperates with the pressure from the fingers to cause the pressure of coiled spring 3| to be overcome and the lighting contact to be made.

The device may thus be carried in the pocket of the user by using the handle 2 i, which cooperates with coiled spring ii to provide a resilient pocket clip. When. it is desired to use the device as a signal light, knob I! may be loosened so as to allow handle 21 to move away from casing ID. The device is then fitted over the hand of the user and is adapted to light on the tensing of the fingers and hand by the user. The light remains on only as long as the hand is in tensed position, coiled spring 3! normally causing battery 30 to move out of engagement with electrical contact member 33 to break the electrical circuit.

In Fig. 6 the upstanding portion l6 of collar l3 has a groove 44 in its outer wall. An aperture 45 is provided in the lower portion of extension The lower end of resilient wire key 46 is anchored in aperture 45 and said key extends outwardly and then upwardly in groove 4. Groove 44 is sufllciently deep to accommodate key 46 and not interfere with screw threaded knob II engaging screw threads 34 of portion It. When knob I1 is in position on portion l6, key 46 exerts a slight pressure against knob I1, and prevents accidental turning of knob 11.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a flash light device, a casing of elec trical conducting material, a light holding member of electrical conducting material positioned within said casing, an electrical light positioned within said holding member, said holding member engaging one contact of said electric light,

a battery within said casing insulated from contact with said casing, one end of said battery contacting the other contact of said electric light, the other end of said battery having a contact, a contact member spaced below said battery and in electrically conductive relationship to the casing, said contact member normally spaced from contact with said battery and means for moving said light holding member and battery downwardly so as to cause said contact member to engage the contact in the other end of said battery.

2. A combination flash and signal light comprising a casing of electrical conducting material, sald casing having an opening, a holding member of electrical conducting material positioned within said casing adjacent said opening, said holding member adapted to receive and engage one contact of an electric light, a battery positioned within said casing and insulated from contact with said casing, one end of said battery contacting the other contact of said electric light, the other end of said battery having an insulated portion and a contact, an electrical contact member positioned beneath the other end of said battery and in electrically conductive relationship to the casing, means for normally spacing said battery and said contact member, said holding member having an extension extending to the exterior of said casing and an adjustableT shaped bar pivotally attached to said casing, said T shaped bar adapted to fit beneath and between the fingers of the hand of the user and adapted upon tensing of the fingers and hand of the user to move apart from said casing and exert pressure against said extension to move said holding member downward- 1y so as to cause said contact member to engage the contact in the other end of said battery and establish an electric circuit to light said, electric light.

3. A hand operated electric light signal device comprising a hollow casing of elect cal conducting material, said casing having an open bottom and a window adjacent its upper end, a collar of electrical conducting material positioned within said casing adjacent said window, said collar adapted to receive and engage one contact of an electric light, a closure of electrical conducting material for the open bottom end of said casing, an electrical contact member l1aving its bottom portion contacting said closure, a coiled spring attached at its lower end to said contact member, an electrical battery insulated from said casing, one end of said battery con tacting the other contact of said electric light, the other end of said battery having an insulated portion and a contact, the insulated poi tion of said end contacting said spring, said casing having a cut out portion adjacent its upper end and substantially opposite to said window, an extension attached on its upper end to said collar, said extension extending outward ly through the cut out portion in said casing and being pivotally attached to said casing, a hand operated member pivotally attached to said casing, a cross bar attached to said hand operated member and a knob attached to the upper portion of said extension, said signal device adapted to be held in the hand of the user, said casing over the back of the hand and said hand operated member placed between the fingers, with said cross bar fitting beneath the fingers, so that tensing of the fingers and hand of the user will cause said casing and said hand operated member to move in opposite directions, said hand operated member adapted upon movement outwardly from said casing to move said knob inwardly toward said casing so as to move said collar and battery therebelow downwardly, so that said spring is contracted and the contact on the other end of said battery contacts said electrical contact member for completing the circuit and lighting said electric light, said spring adapted upon release of tension on said hand operated member by relaxation of the hand of the user to expand to move the other end of said battery upwardly away from contact with said electrical contact member to break the electrical circuit and extinguish said electric light.

4. In a flash light device, a casing of electrical conducting material, said casing having an open bottom, a light holding member of electrical conducting material positioned within said casing, an electric light positioned within said holding member, said light holding member engaging one contact of said electric light, a battery within said casing, insulated from contact with said casing, one end of said battery contacting the other contact of said electric light, the other end of said battery having an insulated portion and a contact, a coiled spring with its upper end contacting the insulated portion of the other end of said battery, a contact member spaced below said battery and in electrically conductive relationship to the casing, said contact member normally spaced from contact with said battery, means for moving the light holding member and battery downwardly so as to cause the contact member to engage the contact in the other end of the battery, the wall of said casing having an inwardly extending flange at its bottom, a bottom disc of electrical conducting material within said casing below said contact member pressed by the force of said spring against said flange and the wall of said casing also having a slit slightly above said flange, said slit adapted to permit the. insertion and removal of said bottom disc.

AARON D. LESAGE. 

